UK
April 30, 1980- Label and catalog number
- Stiff Records SEEZ 23
- Format
- LP, Album, White Label
- Runout / matrix
SEEZ - 23 A2 STERLING GCRunout Side A, etched/stamped, variant 1
SEEZ - 23 B2Runout Side B, etched, variant 1
Vinyl pressings
The Up Escalator
by Graham Parker And The Rumour · 1980
45 pressings19 countriesPower PopPub RockRock
The Up Escalator was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of The Up Escalator
37 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 19 countries. Compare the label and catalog number on your copy, then the codes etched or stamped in the runout groove (the dead wax around the label): they are the surest sign of an early pressing.
UK
1980- Label and catalog number
- Stiff Records SEEZ 23
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
SEEZ - 23 A2 STERLING GCRunout side A, etched/stamped, variant 1
SEEZ - 23 B2Runout side B, etched, variant 1
SEEZ - 23 A3 STERLINGRunout side A, etched/stamped, variant 2
SEEZ - 23 B1 STERLINGRunout side B, etched/stamped, variant 2
UK
1980- Label and catalog number
- Stiff Records SEEZ 23
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
SEEZ-23-A2 A STERLING gcRunout Side A, variant 1
SEEZ-23-B3 A STERLING gcRunout Side B, variant 1
SEEZ-23-A3 A STERLING gcRunout Side A, variant 2
SEEZ-23-B2 ARunout Side B, variant 2
US
May 1980- Label and catalog number
- Arista AL 9517
- Format
- LP, Album · Terre Haute Pressing
- Runout / matrix
T1 AL9517-SA-CT1 STERLINGRunout Side A, Variant 1
T1 AL9517SB-CT2 37 STERLINGRunout Side B, Variant 1
T1 AL9517-SA-CT1 STERLINGRunout Side A, Variant 2
T1 AL9517-SA-CT1 >6 (6 illegible) STERLINGRunout Side B, Variant 2
US
1980- Label and catalog number
- Arista AL 9517
- Format
- LP, Album
US
1980- Label and catalog number
- Arista AL 9517
- Format
- LP, Album · Monarch Pressing
- Runout / matrix
AL9517-SA-M1 MR Δ24751 (1) STERLING GCEtched Side A, except "MR" & STERLING stamped
AL9517-SB-M2 Δ24751-X (2) STERLINGEtched Side B, except STERLING stamped
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 45 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1980s41 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | Vertigo 6437 127First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Arista AL 9517First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Finland | Stiff Records SEEZ 23First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Stiff Records 940 831 / Stiff Records 940831First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | France | Stiff Records 531004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.24 355First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.24355 AN / Stiff Records 6.24355 AOFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.24355 AN / Stiff Records SEEZ 23First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.24355 AN / Stiff Records SEEZ 23First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Greece | Stiff Records 15 512First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1980 | Greece | Stiff Records 15 512 / Stiff Records 15.512First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Hong Kong | Stiff Records SEEZ 23First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Hong Kong | Stiff Records SEEZ 23First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Italy | Stiff Records SEEZ 23First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Italy | Stiff Records SEEZ 23First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
1990s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK | Demon Records FIEND 121LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
Year unknown3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Arista AL 9517LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | Germany | Stiff Records 6.24355 BL / Stiff Records SEEZ 23LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| ? | Germany | Stiff Records 6.24355 BL / Stiff Records SEEZ 23LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
Tracklist
- The Up Side
- A1No Holding Back3:18
- A2Devil's Sidewalk3:14
- A3Stupefaction3:30
- A4Love Without Greed3:24
- A5Jolie, Jolie2:59
- The Down Side
- B1Endless Night3:35
- B2Paralysed3:13
- B3Manoeuvres3:28
- B4Empty Lives5:06
- B5The Beating Of Another Heart4:20
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of The Up Escalator are there?
45 vinyl pressings of The Up Escalator are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1980 and 1990.
When was The Up Escalator first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, US, Belgium, Yugoslavia and more. One of them is Stiff Records SEEZ 23, released April 30, 1980.
How do I tell if my copy of The Up Escalator is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SEEZ 23, AL 9517, ALB6-8358, 940.831) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SEEZ - 23 A2 STERLING GC and SEEZ - 23 B2. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is The Up Escalator on vinyl worth?
It depends on which pressing you have and on the condition of the record and its sleeve. Early pressings from the album's home country in near mint condition are usually worth the most; common later reissues are worth far less. Scan your copy with VinylLens to see its value for every grade.
